CALIFORNIA ENTOMBED ALIVE. Oh, what a fearful dream! Thank God I woke ! Too horror-struck to even form a prayer, I could but writhe upon the ground and scream; Curse my hard fate, give way to wild despair, And, wake at length-to find it all a dream. I'll call my maid and bid her strike a light, I shall feel better when the girl is here. AUGORLIAQ She does not come ! ENTOMBED ALIVE. Wherefore this awful gloom? Why does my heart thus beat with unknown dread ? How came I hither? This is not my room, It seems but little larger than my bed. This is not my couch-'tis clammy ground! Help! Save me! Let me not die like this Will no one heed my cries? I stagger up, and reach an orifice, hot and blood-shot eyes. I never knew how beautiful it was till now, Help! Hither! Save me! Come and set me free! 'Tis not the dread of death my heart appalls; Where every moment lengthens to a year. Break down these walls! What if my crime was great, Say, could it merit such a death as this! Kill me at once-if death must be my fate The hand that strikes the welcome blow, I'll kiss! Help, I implore you! 'Tis a woman calls! I'm young and fair! Oh, save me from this death! Oh, snatch me from this tomb, break down these wallsAnd I will bless you with my latest breath! Help! Give me but my liberty-my life! Save me from death-from this my living grave! Whoever saves me, I will be his wife His mistress-leman-minion-menial-slave! Poor though he be, his poverty I'll share; I'll beg for him-so he but bids me live! Help! I am stifling! Oh! for the fresh pure air!- Help! Save me! or my very hands shall tear These cursed walls! I'll rend them with my shrieks! Water! One drop, to quench my maddening thirst! My tongue is swollen-my throat is parched and dry! Can this be death ?-Father, you've done your worst, But oh! 'twas hard to doom me thus to die! 2 ENTOMBED ALIVE. She does not come! Wherefore this awful gloom? Why does my heart thus beat with unknown dread? How came I hither? This is not my room, It seems but little larger than my bed. This is not my couch-'tis clammy ground! Help! Save me! A living death! Let me not die like this Will no one heed my cries? I stagger up, and reach an orifice, To which I glue my hot and blood-shot eyes. I never knew how beautiful it was till now, To watch the rising sun his radiance throw O'er hill and dale, on every bush and boughTinging all nature with a golden glow. Help! Hither! Save me! Come and set me free! My piercing screams attract the passers by ;Oh! are you men? Can you look on and see A girl-a woman-shut up thus to die? 'Tis not the dread of death my heart appalls; It is this lingering, living death I fear,Shut up alive, to die within these walls, Where every moment lengthens to a year. Break down these walls! What if my crime was great, Say, could it merit such a death as this! Kill me at once- -if death must be my fate The hand that strikes the welcome blow, I'll kiss! Help, I implore you! 'Tis a woman calls! I'm young and fair! Oh, save me from this death! Oh, snatch me from this tomb, break down these walls— And I will bless you with my latest breath! Help! Give me but my liberty-my life! Save me from death-from this my living grave! Whoever saves me, I will be his wife— His mistress-leman-minion-menial-slave! Poor though he be, his poverty I'll share; Help! I am stifling! Oh! for the fresh pure air!- shrieks! Water! One drop, to quench my maddening thirst! |